U.S. health department honors Amarillo hospital

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently honored an Amarillo hospital and more than 400 others for their work in saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation and recovery.

Eleven of the hospitals honored by the department, including Northwest Texas Healthcare System, work with LifeGift, a nonprofit organ and tissue procurement organization that serves individuals needing transplants in Southeast, North and West Texas.

The 11 facilities received the distinction for outstanding leadership and commitment to organ donors, donor families and the nearly 115,000 patients nationwide waiting for transplants, according to LifeGift.

The winners represent hospitals that sustained a donation rate of 75 percent or higher from among eligible donors during the award period, April 2010 through March 31.